When children want children

Contexts (Berkeley, Calif.), 2011

Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, 2007

Canadian journal of family and youth, 2019

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1996

Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, 2007

2010

Ethical Perspectives, 1995

Italian Sociological Review, 2019

The spread of medically assisted procreation (MAP) techniques promises to realise the previously denied human dream of planning and controlling one’s progeny. The new social imaginary features a disproportionately greater freedom of choice and decision-making powers for adults (parents), along with increased risks of genetic determination also given the extremely rapid developments in genetics. At the same time, this demand is fuelled by the presence of a booming private reproductive market which often employs commercial marketing techniques by promising couples and women not only that they can achieve their desire for a child but can make the ‘child of their desire’ – they can have the children that they want, when and how they want them. This article presents the results of an exploratory study conducted with a sample of 360 subjects aged between 25 and 45 who may or may not have not used MAP and examines their responses to a questionnaire. In particular, what lies behind the idea...

Journal of Medical Ethics, 1985